Same-sex couples flock to local registrar offices to marry

Same-sex couples packed local registrars' offices Monday, one day after a last-ditch effort by opponents to stop gay marriages in California was rejected.

The Norwalk Registrar's Office opened at 8 a.m. and will close at 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday. The extended hours are meant to accommodate couples picking up their licenses and taking part in civil ceremonies. Each of the branch offices will add an additional day each week for prescheduled civil ceremonies.

"Today we know that there are many couples, more than 300, that applied for marriage licenses on our online application over the weekend, so they're cued up to come in to one of our facilities and get those licenses," said Dean Logan with the Norwalk Registrar's Office. "We expect there to be a lot of activity here at our branch offices today, and we're looking forward to it."

Couples must have a license issued by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder before a marriage ceremony can take place.

"The best $100 I ever spent!" Darletta Horn said after getting her license. She wed her 30-year partner Judy on Monday. The two were first in line at the Norwalk office and waited two hours for doors to open.

In West Hollywood, officials will be temporarily deputized to help the rush of same-sex couples who want to marry at City Hall.

"If one couple shows up, or 100 couples show up, it'll be great," said Mayor Pro Tem John D'Amico. "Just stepping off on the right foot, showing Los Angeles County, the state of California, the whole country, that West Hollywood is a place that is safe for gay and lesbian couples to come and get married."

For the next 60 days, West Hollywood and Long Beach will offer prescheduled civil ceremonies on Thursdays. From 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday only, couples can get a free civil ceremony on a first-come, first-serve basis in West Hollywood.

Justice Anthony Kennedy on Sunday denied a request from supporters of Proposition 8 to stop the issuance of same-sex marriage licenses in California. He did not release any additional comment. Same-sex marriage opponents filed an emergency motion Saturday, asking Kennedy to step in and intervene after the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals lifted a stay on same-sex marriages Friday.